India should break tradition and go for a fast bowler captain: Shoaib Akhtar

Shoaib
Akhtar, former speedster of Pakistan, said India should break the tradition of
naming a batter captain of the team and instead groom fast bowler Jasprit
Bumrah as India’s next Test captain. Since Virat Kohli stepped down as India’s
Test captain earlier this month, the hot seat of Test captaincy is up for grab
and BCCI is yet to make a decision on the matter.

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In
an interview with Sports Today on Saturday, Akhtar said India should take a
leaf out of Pakistan cricket and name a bowler captain. In the past, Pakistan
were led by legendry fast bowlers Imran Khan, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis and
they were successful. For India, fast-bowling all-rounder Kapil Dev led India
in ODIs and Tests successfully. Akhtar said Bumrah should be attributed for his
leadership quality as a pacer and he should be named vice-captain and be
groomed for captaincy.

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“Why
don’t you look at fast bowlers as captain. Kapil Dev was a fast bowler, wasn’t
he a great captain? I don’t know why there is this notion that batsmen are more
clever than us. For Pakistan, Imran Khan, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis have all
been captains,” Akhtar said on Sports Today.

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“A
fast bowler always goes for a win. I am not saying that the batters don’t but
it is a little different. Jasprit Bumrah should be made the vice-captain and
groomed for captaincy. Groom fast bowlers and all-rounders. This trend of
thinking that only batters can be captain is wrong,” he further said.

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Earlier,
when Bumrah was asked whether he is willing to lead India in Tests, he
expressed his desire to lead India in the longest format, if he is given an
opportunity.

“If
given an opportunity, it will be an honour and I don’t see any player would say
no and I am no different. Be it any leadership group, I always look to
contribute however I can, to the best of my abilities,” Bumrah replied to
a query from PTI in a press conference last Tuesday.

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Since
Kohli stepped down, former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar suggested Rishabh
Pant’s name for the captaincy. Apart from Bumrah and Pant, limited-overs
captain Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul are also in contention for the role.